Keyboard



B. COOPER Aug. 25, 1942.

KEYBOARD Filed June 13, 1940 3 s-Sheet 1 L ENTO 5&1 MA M/N COOPER BY% F,

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 25, 1942. B COOPER 2,293,935

KEYBOARD Filed June 13, 1940 3 tssheet 2 "'-I l 4 zm/Ewntfi 5 BENJA M/N COOPER.

ATTORNEY B. COOPER Aug. .25, 1942.

KEYBOAE D Filed June 13, 1940 3 h et 5 l 1 l L r \1 I N V EN TOR. BENJAM/N COOPER.

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ATTOR/VEK Patented Aug. 25, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEYBOARD Benjamin Cooper, Jersey City, N. J.

Application June 13, 1940, Serial No. 340,331

13 Claims.

This invention relates to key boards. It is particularly directed to devices for operating switches for controlling electrical counters and indicating systems in toll checking equipment and for the like purposes.

Key boards or registers are known in which a slide bar actuates means for holding a depressed push button or a switch actuated thereby and for releasing a previously depressed button or switch actuated by said previously depressed button. Such devices are sometimes inadequate for accurate results. The fault of such devices lies in the fact that operators, either through accident or design, may depress a push button half way, or less, and then release pressure therefrom or, in some instances, manipulate a push button in and out short distances, or otherwise manipulate the button permitting the slide bar to shift, releasing the previously depressed push button or switch without fully depressing another push button and thus spoiling the intended operation of the device.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide in a device of the character described, means to insure release of a switch actuated by a previously depressed push button or key only upon subsequently depressing another key sufficiently to actuate the switch for said subsequent- 1y depressed key.

Another object of this invention is to provide 1 in a device of the character described, a toggle mechanism for each one of the push buttons, said toggle mechanism being so constructed that once it is actuated by its push button it will snap into its operating position and then return to its initial position when pressure is released from the push button, and a rotatable member for each of the said toggle mechanisms rotated thereby and means to hold the same in its rotated position after said toggle mechanism has returned to its initialposition, the toggle mechanism and rotatable member being adapted to control switches for any suitable purpose.

A further object of thisinvention is to provide in a device of the-character described, means for releasing a previously rotated rotatable member upon subsequently depressing another push button.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character described, means to prevent the simultaneous actuation of two or more of the push buttons.

Still a further object'of this invention is to Provide in a device of the character described, a pair of switches for each of the toggle mechanisms, one of the said switches being actuated by the action of the said toggle mechanism until its push button is released, the other of said switches being held actuated until released by the actuation of another push button.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character described, a panel having two side walls, all the push buttons, toggle mechanisms, switches and wiring therefor, bein mounted on said panel and between said side Walls and being easily removable as a unit from a housing therefor.

A further object of this invention is to provide a strong, compact, rugged device of the character described, comprising comparatively few and simple parts, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, smooth and positive in operation, easy to assemble and disassemble, and which shall nevertheless be practical and eflicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which Will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of this application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the device embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken alon the line 55 of Fig. 1, showing the action of the togglemechanism when actuated by the depressible push button;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. l; and

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, l0 designates a device embodying the invention. The device comprises a frame or support H having a top plate or panel [4 and parallel side Walls 12 and I 3 fixed thereto. The top plate It is provided with a plurality of aligned slotted openings l5. Aflixed to the under surface of top plate I 4, as by screws I6, and depending perpendicularly therefrom, are a plurality of U-shaped members aligned with slots l and having parallel side walls l8, parallel to walls l2 and l3, and a front wall I9 about half the length of the side walls l8, one U-shaped member being provided for each of the slotted openings l5. Fixed to the front wall IQ of each of the U-shaped members, are a pair of switches 43, comprising the normally closed insulated spring fingers 43a, and 431), but maintained open when the device is not in operation, in the manner hereinafter appearing.

Mounted between the side walls l2 and I3 are shafts 60, and 80, parallel to top plate Hi. There is afiixed to the side walls l2 and I3 a vertical plate 5| having a horizontal portion 52 parallel with the top plate I4 and provided with aligned slot openings 53 of the same size as the openings l5, and aligned therewith. Fixed between said side plates is also a vertical plate 54 having a surface 55 fiush with aligned edges of the slot openings l5 and 53. Afiixed to the underside of portion 52 of plate 5|, as by screws 51a, is plate 51 parallel with plate It. Fixed to plate 51 are a plurality of pairs of switches 53 comprising the normally open insulated spring fingers 58a. and 58b, a pair of the said switches being provided for each of the U-shaped members, and said pair of switches being disposed on opposite sides of each opening 53.

On frame II are a plurality of similar, parallel, depressible plungers 41, 41a, 41b, etc., each comprising a plunger rod 49 slidably mounted within the aligned slotted openings l5 and 53 and having buttons or caps 48 at the upper ends thereof.

It will be noted that there is one plunger for each aligned pairs of switches 43 and 53.

Means is provided to permit the normally open switches 43 to close when its plunger is depressed and to again open said switches when said plunger is released and moves back to initial position. To this end, affixed to the inner surfaces of the side walls l8 of the U-shaped members H, are parallel plates 31 having lower edges M5. The lower ends of said plates are cut away to form recessed edges 4 I. A shaft 38 is mounted through said plates 31 and the side walls I8. To the outer surfaces of side walls l8, and near the lower edges thereof, are stud pins 20. Rotatably mounted on said stud pins is a unit A comprising two aligned bell cranks 2|, having the arms Zia and 2|b interconnected by spacer rods 24 and 25. Rotatably mounted on the spacer rod 25 are the two insulated rollers 26. Said rollers contact the spring fingers 43a, and 43b of switches 43 holding the spring fingers apart.

Aflixed to the inner surface of side walls l8 and at the lower end, are the stud pins 28. Said stud pins 28 are in perpendicular alignment with the stud pins 2!]. Rotatably mounted about the said stud pins 28 is a unit 13 comprising a pair of aligned bell cranks 23, having the arms 29a, and 29b interconnected by means of spacer rods 3| and 32. Rod 3| is connected to rod 38 by a coil tension spring 39. Rods 24 and 32 are interconnected by a coil tension spring 45. A roller 33 is rotatably mounted on shaft 35. Amxed to rod 49 is a foot 5!]. Roller 33 is contacted by the foot 50 of the rod 39. Depressing push button 41 will hence rotate unit B in a clockwise direction.

Unit A is limited in its clockwise rotation about the pins 20 by stops 35 in the lower edges of side walls l8; and in its counter-clockwise direction by stops 36 in the lower edges of side walls l8. Unit B is limited in its clockwise direction about the pins 28 by the edges 4| of plates 31 and in its counter-clockwise direction by the bottom edge 40 of plates 31.

By rotating unit B in a clockwise direction, spring 45 will rotate in a clockwise direction about rod 24. When spring 45 passes beyond a line interconnecting rods 23 and 29, a pulling force will be exerted on unit A urging it to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. The rotation of unit A will be halted when arms Zlb engage the stops 35. The rotation of unit B will be stopped when arms 2%- and 33b engage the edge portions 4| of the plates 31.

Spring 39 exerts an upward pull on unit B, rotating the same in a counter-clockwise direction until the arms 29a again contact the lower edges 4|] of plates 31 thereby returning the push button to its initial position. By returning unit B to its initial position, unit B will rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, rotating spring .5 in the same direction about rod 23. When spring 35 passes beyond a line interconnecting rods 24 and 32, a force will be exerted on unit A rotating it in a clockwise direction until the arms 2 b contact the stops 33.

The spring fingers 43a and 33b are normally held out of engagement by the insulated rollers 26 on the unit A. By the rotation of unit A in a counter-clockwise direction, upon depressing the plunger, spring fingers 33a and 431) are allowed to contact. The return of unit A to its initial position will again interpose the insulated rollers, opening the contacts.

Means is provided to close a pair of switches 58 upon depressing its plunger, and to hold the said switches closed after the return of the plunger to its initial position until they are released by depressing another plunger.

To this end, there is pivoted on the shaft 60, a plurality of rocking members 6|, each aligned with a pair of switches 58. Each of the rocking members 6| comprises a pair of aligned bell cranks Ma having arms Blb and Blc. The arms Elb of each pair of bell cranks are interconnected by a web 32. Web 62 has a notch 65 having a lower edge 65a. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 61 are the insulated rollers 68. The rocking members 6| are spaced upon the shaft 60 by sleeves 69 and are so spaced that the upper portion of webs 62 normally engage the rod 24 of the toggle, and the insulated rollers 68 will close the switches 53 upon rotation of the said rocking members in a clockwise direction. Web portion 62 of each rocking member is normally held in engagement with rod 24 by coil spring 12 having one end connected to said web as at 13, and the other end to a sleeve 1| rotatably mounted on shaft '13.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft is sleeve 8| having a winged member 82 affixed thereto adjacent the side wall I3. Said winged member has afiixed to its outer end a pin 83. Side wall I3 is provided with slotted opening i l so positioned to receive the pin 83. Afflxed to the outer surface of wall I3 is pin 15 connected to the pin 83 by coil spring 84. Coil spring 84 exerts an upward pull on wing member 82 urging said member and the sleeve 8| to rotate in a clockwise direction, looking at Fig. 3.

Rigidly affixed to sleeve 8|, as by screws 16a, are the pawl fingers i3 aligned with notches 65 and having downwardly curved portion 11 adapted to pass through said notches. The pawl fingers are so affixed to said sleeve that under normal conditions, when the plungers are up,

said fingers will pass through the notch 65 of the angular member BI and rest on the bottom edge 65a.

When push button 41 is depressed, its unit A will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, Figs. 3 and 5, thereby rotating angular member 6| in a clockwise direction for closing the switches 58. The rotation of angular member 6! will allow pawl finger 16 to slip out of notch 65, and due to the length of said pawl finger and the action of spring 84 on sleeve 8|, the tip of the said pawl finger will abut the back of web 62 of the said angular member. The push button 41, in the meanwhile having been released, unit A will rotate in a clockwise direction, but angular member 6| will be held by pawl finger 16, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, to retain switches 58 closed.

To open switches 58, one of the other plungers of the device must be depressed to rotate its rocking member 6| in a clockwise direction. Edge 65a of notch 65 will slide along pawl 16 on said notch raising all of the pawls against the action of spring 84. By the slight rotation of sleeve 8|, the pawl finger 16 holding the one set of switches 58 closed, will be raised enough to allow the angular member iii to return to its initial position due to the action of spring 12. The previously closed switches 58 are thereby allowed to open. Meanwhile, another set of the switches 58 was closed and remained closed until released as aforedescribed.

The same push button may be successively depressed as often as desired. The switches 58 will remain closed. The switches 43 will alone be actuated as hereinbefore described. The switches 58 will again be opened only by depressing any one of the other push buttons.

Means is provided to prevent the actuation of more than one push button at a time. To this end, there is provided on rods 49, shoulder members 58 having shoulders 56a and 58b. (Fig. 1.) Interposed between shoulder members 56, and pivoted on plate 54 as by screw 86, are webbed members 85 having the shoulders 85s and 851'. Said webbed members have upward projecting tongues 81 and depending tongues 88. (Figs. 1 and 3.) The upward projecting tongues 81 each bears at its outer end a weighted mass 98. The

depending tongues 88 bear at their lower end the cotter pins 9|. Co-action of the webbed members is brought about by links 92. Each link has a bearing opening at one end and a slot 93 at its other end. Each link 92 is pivoted at one end by cotter pin 9| in the bearing opening to one member 85 and connected to the adjacent member 85 by a pin and slot connection 9| and 93. The clearance between the shoulder members 56 and the shoulders of the web members 85 is sufiicient only to permit one plunger to be depressed at a time.

Depressing push button 41, in Fig. 1, will slide shoulder 56b downwardly and over the shoulder 85s of the webbed member 85. Member 85 will rotate about its pivot 86 in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 1), closing the clearance between shoulders 56a and 851. This motion will be imparted to the other members 85 through links 92. The weighted mass 98 aids in the rotation of the said members. The webbed member will also close the clearance between their shoulder 851 and the shoulder 58a affixed to rod 49. If the push button is held in its lowermost position none of the other push buttons may be actuated because of the lack of clearance between the shoulders.

Should an attempt be made to depress two push buttons at the same time neither one would be depressed far enough to perform their intended operations. The shoulders affixed to the rods 49 would slide downwardly about half way on the shoulders of the webbed members and come to a stop when all of the clearance is taken up. The webbed members would not rotate about the pivots to give sufiicient clearance for the shoulders afiixed to the rods 49.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and whichis well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments set forth, it is to be understood that all matter here in set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a frame, a plunger slidab-ly mounted thereon, a bell crank mounted on the frame and having a pair of arms, means on the plunger to engage one of the arms for rotating said bell crank in one direction, spring means to rotate said bell crank in an opposite direction, a second bell crank pivoted on said frame and having a pair of arms, a tension spring interconnecting the other arm of the first bell crank with one of the arms of the second bell crank, a switch, the second arm of the second bell crank being adapted to control said switch, a member rotatably mounted on the frame, spring means to rotate said member in said opposite direction, said second bell crank engaging and being adapted to rotate said member in the first direction, when said second bell crank is rotated in said opposite direction, by depressing the plunger and rotating the first bell crank in the first direction, a second switch, means on said member to close said switch when said member is rotated by said second bell crank, and means to hold said member in switch closing position, upon releasing the plunger.

2. In combination, a frame, a plurality of parallel plungers slidably mounted thereon,.a toggle mechanism for each plunger, each toggle mechanism comprising a bell crank pivoted to the frame, means on each plunger to engage an arm of said bell crank to rotate said bell crank in one direction when the plunger is depressed, spring means to rotate said bell crank in an opposite direction, and a second bell crank pivoted to the frame and having arm connected by a spring to an arm of the first bell crank, a switch controlled by the second arm of the second bell crank of each toggle mechanism, the bell cranks in each toggle mechanism being so arranged that when the first bell crank is rotated in said first direction by its plunger, the second bell crank will be rotated in said opposite direction, and when the plunger is released and the first bell crank is rotated in an opposite direction by the first spring means, the second bell crank will be rotated in said first direction by the spring which interconnects the bell cranks, a rotatable member associated with each toggle mechanism, a switch controlled by each rotatable member, the second bell crank of each toggle mechanism being adapted to rotate said member'in said first direction, upon depressing its plunger, a member rotatably mounted on the frame and bearing a plurality of fingers, each finger being adapted to engage one of said rotatable members, spring meansfor rotating the finger bearing member in said first direction, said fingers being adapted to hold the rotatable member which has been rotated by depression of its plunger, in rotated position, each of said rotatable members having means co-acting with the fingers to rotate the finger bearing member for releasing the rotatable member which has been held by one of the fingers, when another rotatable member is subsequently rotated by depression of any plunger.

3. In a key board, the combination comprising a plurality of depressible keys, a toggle mechanism associated with each of the said depressible keys and actuated thereby, means for returning said toggle mechanism and said key upon release of pressure from said key, a rotatable member associated with each one of said toggle mechanisms and adapted to be rotated in one direction from initial position thereby, spring means to rotate said member back to normal position, and means for holding said rotatable member in its rotated position upon rotating said member by said toggle mechanism, and means for releasing said rotatable member when another of said rotatable members is rotated.

4.'In a keyboard, the combination comprising a plurality of depressible keys, a toggle mechanism associated with each of the said depressible keys and actuated thereby, means for returning said toggle mechanism and said key upon release of pressure from said key, a rotatable member associated with each one of said toggle mechanisms and adapted to be rotated in one direction from initial position thereby, spring means to rotate said member back to normal position, means for holding said rotatable member in its rotated position upon rotating said member by said toggle mechanism, means for releasing said rotatable member when another toggle mechanism is actuated and another of said rotatable members is rotated, a switch, one for each of said toggle mechanisms, and means on said toggle mechanism to actuate said switch upon depressing a key and releasing pressure therefrom.

5. In a key board, the combination comprising a plurality of depressible keys, a toggle mechanism associated with each of the said depressible keys and actuated thereby, means for returning said toggle mechanism and said key upon release of pressure from said key, a rotatable member associated with each one of said toggle mechanisms and adapted to be rotated in one direction from initial position thereby, spring means to rotate said member back to normal position, means for holding said rotatable member in its rotated position upon rotating said member by said toggle mechanism, means for releasing said rotatable member when another toggle mechanism is actuated and another of said rotatable members is rotated, a switch, one for each of said toggle mechanisms, means on said toggle mechanism to actuate said switch upon depressing a key and releasing pressure therefrom, a second switch, one for each of said rotatable members, and means on said rotatable members to actuate said second switches and holding said second switches actuated while said rotatable members are held in their rotated position.

6. In a key board, the combination comprising a plurality of depressible keys, a toggle mechanism associated with each of said keys and actuated thereby, means for returning said toggle mechanism and said key to initial position upon release of pressure from said key, a shaft, a plurality of members independently and rotatably mounted on said shaft, one of said members being provided for each of the said toggle mechanisms and adapted to be "rotated in one direction from initial position thereby, spring means to return said members to initial position, a second shaft rotatably mounted, a finger for each of said members affixed to said second shaft and so positioned as to co-act with said member, said finger holding said member in its rotated position upon rotating said member by said toggle mechanism, means for rotating said second shaft upon rotation of any one of said members, said finger and rotatable member having means for releasing the held member when said second shaft is rotated by the rotation of another of said members.

'7. In a key board, the combination comprising a plurality of depressible keys, a toggle mechanism associated with each of said keys and actuated thereby, means for returning said toggle mechanism and said key to initial position upon release of pressure from said key, a shaft, a plurality of members independently and rotatably mounted on said shaft, one of said members being provided for each of the said toggle mechanisms and adapted to be rotated in one direction from initial position thereby, spring means to return said members to initial position, a second shaft rotatably mounted, a finger for each of said members affixed to said second shaft and so positioned as to co-act with said member, said finger holding said memberin its rotated position upon rotating said member by said toggle mechanism, means for rotating said second shaft upon rotation of any one of said members, said finger and rotatable member having means for releasing the held member when said'second shaft is rotated by the rotation of another of said members, a switch, one for each of said toggle mechanisms, means on said toggle mechanism to. actuate said switch upon depressing a key and releasing pressure therefrom.

8. In a key board, the combination comprising a plurality of depressible keys, a toggle mechanism associated with each of said keys and actuated thereby, means for returning said toggle mechanism and said key to initial position upon release of pressure from said key, a shaft, a plurality of members independently and rotatably mounted on said shaft, one of said members being provided for each of the said toggle mechanisms and adapted to be rotated in one direction from initial position thereby, spring means to return said members to initial position, a second shaft rotatably mounted, a finger for each of said members afiixed to said secondshaft and so positioned as to co-act with said member, said finger holding said member in its rotated position upon rotating said member by said toggle mechanism, means for rotating said second shaft upon rotation of any one of said members, said finger and rotatable member having means for releasing the held member when said second shaft is rotated by the rotation of another of said members, a switch, one for each of said toggle mechanisms, means on said toggle mechanism to actuate said switch upon depressing a key and releasing pressure therefrom, a second switch, one for each of said rotatable members, and means on said rotatable member to actuate said second switch and holding said second switch actuated while said rotatable member is held in its rotated position.

9. In combination, a frame, a plurality of parallel plungers slidably mounted thereon, a toggle mechanism for each plunger, means on each plunger to operate its toggle mechanism, means to return said mechanism to initial position, a switch associated with each toggle mechanism and actuated thereby, a member associated with each toggle mechanism and its plunger, and adapted to be positioned by said mechanism when its plunger is depressed, a second switch, means on said member to actuate said second switch upon positioning of said member by said toggle mechanism, and means to hold said member in switch actuating position upon releasing the plunger associated therewith.

10. In combination, a frame, a plurality of parallel plungers slidably mounted therein, a toggle mechanism for each plunger, means on each plunger to operate its toggle mechanism, means to return said mechanism to initial position, a switch associated with each toggle mechanism and actuated thereby, a member associated with each toggle mechanism and its plunger, and adapted to be positioned by said mechanism when its plunger is depressed, a second switch, means on said member to actuate said second switch upon positioning of said member by said toggle mechanism, means to hold said member in switch actuating position upon releasing the plunger associated therewith, said member having means co-acting with said holding means to release the member which has been held by said holding means, when another of said members is subsequently positioned by depression of another plunger.

11. In a key board, the combination comprising, a. plurality of depressible keys, a toggle mechanism associated with each depressible key and adapted to be actuated by their respective keys, means for returning each toggle mechanism actuated by depressing its key and the depressed key to normal position upon release of pressure from the depressed key, a movable member associated with each of said toggle mechanisms, each movable member being adapted to be moved from its normal position to an actuated position by the toggle mechanism associated therewith upon actuating said toggle mechanism, means for holding each movable member which has been moved from normal position to actuated position by its toggle mechanism, in actuated position, means for releasing the holding means upon subsequently depressing another key, and means for moving each released movable member to its normal position upon releasing said holding means.

12. In a key board, the combination comprising, a plurality of depressible keys, a toggle mechanism associated with each depressible key and adapted to be actuated by their respective keys, means for returning each toggle mechnism actuated by depressing its key and the depressed key to normal position upon release of pressure from the depressed key, a movable member associated with each of said toggle mechanisms, each movable member being adapted to be moved from its normal position to an actuated position by the toggle mechanism associated therewith upon actuating said toggle mechanism, means for holding each movable member which has been moved from normal position to actuated position by its toggle mechanism, in actuated position, means for releasing the holding means upon subsequently depressing another key, means for moving each released movable member to its normal position upon releasing said holding means, and a switch assosociated with each toggle mechanism and adapted to be actuated upon depressing a key associated with said toggle mechanism.

13. In a key board, the combination comprising, a plurality of depressible keys, a toggle mechanism associated with each depressible key and adapted to be actuated by their respective keys, means for returning each toggle mechanism actuated by depressing its key and the depressed key to normal position upon release of pressure from the depressed key, a movable member associated with each of said toggle mechanisms, each movable member being adapted to be moved from its normal position to an actuated position by the toggle mechanism associated therewith upon actuating said toggle mechanism, means for holding each movable member which has been moved from normal position to actuated position by its toggle mechanism, in actuated position, means for releasing the holding means upon subsequently depressing another ke means for moving each released movable member to its normal position upon releasing said holding means, a switch associated with each toggle mechanism and adapted to be actuated upon depressing a key associated with said toggle mechanism, and a second switch associated with each movable member and adapted to be actuated upon moving its movable member to actuated position.

BENJAMIN COOPER. 

